Topical Bible: Abraham's

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Introduction:
Abraham, originally named Abram, is a central figure in the Bible, revered as the patriarch of the Israelites, Ishmaelites, Edomites, and Midianites. His account is primarily found in the Book of Genesis, where he is depicted as a man of great faith and obedience to God. Abraham is considered the father of monotheism and is a key figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Name and Meaning:
The name "Abram" means "exalted father," while "Abraham" means "father of many nations." God changed his name from Abram to Abraham as a sign of the covenant that He established with him (Genesis 17:5: "No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.").

Family Background:
Abraham was the son of Terah and was born in Ur of the Chaldeans. He had two brothers, Nahor and Haran. Haran was the father of Lot, who later accompanied Abraham on his journey. Abraham's wife was Sarai, later renamed Sarah by God.

Call and Journey:
God called Abraham to leave his homeland and go to a land that He would show him. In Genesis 12:1-3 , God promises Abraham that He will make him into a great nation, bless him, and make his name great. Abraham obeyed and traveled to Canaan, the land promised to his descendants.

Covenant with God:
The covenant between God and Abraham is a pivotal moment in biblical history. In Genesis 15, God promises Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars. The covenant is further established in Genesis 17, where God institutes circumcision as a sign of the covenant. God promises Abraham that he will be the father of many nations and that kings will come from him.

Key Events:

1. The Birth of Ishmael:
Due to Sarah's barrenness, she gives her maidservant Hagar to Abraham to bear a child. Hagar gives birth to Ishmael, who becomes the ancestor of the Ishmaelites (Genesis 16).

2. The Birth of Isaac:
God promises Abraham and Sarah a son in their old age. Isaac is born as the child of promise, through whom God's covenant will continue (Genesis 21:1-3: "Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. And Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore to him.").

3. The Binding of Isaac:
In a test of faith, God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham obeys, but God intervenes and provides a ram as a substitute offering (Genesis 22:12-13: "Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel. “For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from Me.” Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.").

4. The Death of Sarah and Abraham:
Sarah dies at the age of 127, and Abraham purchases the cave of Machpelah as a burial site (Genesis 23). Abraham later marries Keturah and has additional children. He dies at the age of 175 and is buried alongside Sarah (Genesis 25:7-10).

Legacy:
Abraham's legacy is profound, as he is considered the father of faith. His unwavering trust in God and his role in the establishment of the covenant make him a model of faithfulness. The promises made to Abraham are seen as foundational to the narrative of the Bible and the unfolding of God's plan for humanity.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Abraham's bosom: (Luke 16:22, 23) refers to the custom of reclining on couches at table, which was prevalent among the Jews, an arrangement which brought the head of one person almost into the bosom of the one who sat or reclined above him. To "be in Abraham's bosom" thus meant to enjoy happiness and rest (Matthew 8:11; Luke 16:23) at the banquet in Paradise. (see banquet; MEALS.)

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ABRAHAM'S BOSOM

booz'-um (kolpos Abraam; kolpoi Abraam): Figurative. The expression occurs in Luke 16:22, 23, in the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, to denote the place of repose to which Lazarus was carried after his death. The figure is suggested by the practice of the guest at a feast reclining on the breast of his neighbor. Thus, John leaned on the breast of Jesus at supper (John 21:20). The rabbis divided the state after death (Sheol) into a place for the righteous and a place for the wicked (see ESCHATOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT; SHEOL); but it is doubtful whether the figure of Jesus quite corresponds with this idea. "Abraham's bosom" is not spoken of as in "Hades," but rather as distinguished from it (Luke 16:23)-a place of blessedness by itself. There Abraham receives, as at a feast, the truly faithful, and admits them to closest intimacy. It may be regarded as equivalent to the "Paradise" of Luke 23:43. See HADES; PARADISE.

James Orr

BOSOM, ABRAHAM'S

See ABRAHAM'S BOSOM.

Greek

11. Abraam -- Abraham, the Heb. patriarch
... Abraam. 12 . Abraham, the Heb. ... Word Origin of Hebrew origin Abraham Definition
Abraham, the Heb. patriarch NASB Word Usage Abraham (66), Abraham's (7). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/11.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

3876. Lot -- Abraham's nephew
... Lot. 3877 . Abraham's nephew. Transliteration: Lot Phonetic Spelling: (lote) Short
Definition: lot. ... Lot. The same as lowt; Lot, Abraham's nephew -- Lot. ...
/hebrew/3876.htm - 6k

8646. Terach -- Abraham's father, also a place in the desert
... 8645, 8646. Terach. 8647 . Abraham's father, also a place in the desert.
Transliteration: Terach Phonetic Spelling: (teh'-rakh) Short Definition: Terah. ...
/hebrew/8646.htm - 6k

3458. Yishmael -- "God hears," the name of several Israelites
... Ishmael. From shama' and 'el; God will hear; Jishmael, the name of Abraham's oldest
son, and of five Israelites -- Ishmael. see HEBREW shama'. see HEBREW 'el. ...
/hebrew/3458.htm - 6k

85. Abraham -- "exalted father," the father of the Jewish nation
... 84, 85. Abraham. 86 . "exalted father," the father of the Jewish nation.
Transliteration: Abraham Phonetic Spelling: (ab-raw-hawm') Short Definition: Abraham ...
/hebrew/85.htm - 6k

8283. Sarah -- "princess," a wife of Abraham
... "princess," a wife of Abraham. Transliteration: Sarah Phonetic Spelling: (saw-raw')
Short Definition: Sarah. ... The same as sarah; Sarah, Abraham's wife -- Sarah. ...
/hebrew/8283.htm - 6k

Library

Abraham's Guest
... ABRAHAM'S GUEST. You have all heard of Abraham, who went out from his home
in Ur of the Chaldees to find God. And you remember how ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/abrahams guest.htm

Abraham's Obedience
... SERMON XIII. ABRAHAM'S OBEDIENCE. HEBREWS, xi.17-19. "By faith Abraham, when
he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon xiii abrahams obedience.htm

Abraham's Blessings on the Gentiles, Gen. 17 7 Rom. 15 8 Mark 10 ...
... Hymns. Book 1. Hymn 1:113. Abraham's blessings on the Gentiles, Gen. 17.
7. Rom. 15. 8. Mark 10. 14. 1 How large the promise! how ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 0 120138889 abrahams blessings on.htm

Abraham's Faith
... SERMON XII. ABRAHAM'S FAITH. HEBREWS, xi.9, 10. "By faith Abraham sojourned
in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon xii abrahams faith.htm

Of the Era in Abraham's Life from which a New Period in the Holy ...
... Book XVI. Chapter 12."Of the Era in Abraham's Life from Which a New Period
in the Holy Succession Begins. Let us now survey the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 12 of the era in.htm

Abraham's Sacrifice of a Heifer Three Years Old, of a Goat, and of ...
... Chapter II."Abraham's Sacrifice of a Heifer Three Years Old, of a Goat, and of a
Ram Also Three Years Old: Its Meaning; Every Age to Be Consecrated to God ...
/.../chapter ii abrahams sacrifice of a.htm

Whether Christ Paid Tithes in Abraham's Loins?
... OF THE MATTER FROM WHICH THE SAVIOUR'S BODY WAS CONCEIVED (EIGHT ARTICLES)
Whether Christ paid tithes in Abraham's loins? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ paid tithes in.htm

What is Meant by Abraham's Marrying Keturah after Sarah's Death.
... Book XVI. Chapter 34."What is Meant by Abraham's Marrying Keturah After Sarah's
Death. What did Abraham mean by marrying Keturah after Sarah's death? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 34 what is meant by.htm

Abraham's Offering up his Son Isaac
... Abraham's Offering Up His Son Isaac. Genesis 22:12 " "And he said, Lay not
thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/abrahams offering up his son.htm

Abraham's Bosom --What it Means.
... Book IV. Chapter 24."Abraham's Bosom"What It Means. As to your supposing
that "the Abraham's bosom referred to is corporeal," and ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 24 abrahams bosomwhat it means.htm

Thesaurus

Abraham's (34 Occurrences)
...Abraham's bosom: (Luke 16:22, 23) refers to the custom of reclining on couches at
table, which was prevalent among the Jews, an arrangement which brought the ...
/a/abraham's.htm - 18k

Bosom (47 Occurrences)
...ABRAHAM'S BOSOM. ... "Abraham's bosom" is not spoken of as in "Hades," but rather as
distinguished from it (Luke 16:23)-a place of blessedness by itself. ...
/b/bosom.htm - 26k

Mamre (10 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Manliness. (1.) An Amoritish chief in alliance
with Abraham (Genesis 14:13, 24). (2.) The name of the ...
/m/mamre.htm - 16k

Offspring (186 Occurrences)
... (WEB ASV BBE DBY). John 8:33 They answered him, We are Abraham's offspring, and
were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? (WBS). ...
/o/offspring.htm - 36k

Rebekah (31 Occurrences)
... The circumstances under which Abraham's "steward" found her at the "city
of Nahor," in Padan-aram, are narrated in Genesis 24-27. ...
/r/rebekah.htm - 21k

Keturah (4 Occurrences)
... Incense, the wife of Abraham, whom he married probably after Sarah's death (Genesis
25:1-6), by whom he had six sons, whom he sent away into the east country. ...
/k/keturah.htm - 9k

Laban (52 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary White. (1.) The son of Bethuel, who was the son of
Nahor, Abraham's brother. He lived at Haran in Mesopotamia. ...
/l/laban.htm - 28k

Ish'mael (40 Occurrences)
... Ishmael to Abram. (See RSV). Genesis 17:18 And Abraham said unto God: 'Oh that
Ishmael might live before Thee!' (See RSV). Genesis 17:20 ...
/i/ish'mael.htm - 18k

Rebecca (28 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV). Genesis 22:23 (And Bethuel begot Rebecca.)
These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother. (DBY). ...
/r/rebecca.htm - 14k

Posterity (38 Occurrences)
... the aggregate number of persons who are descended from an ancestor of a generation;
descendants; -- contrasted with ancestry; as, the posterity of Abraham. ...
/p/posterity.htm - 17k

Resources

What is Abraham's bosom? | GotQuestions.org

What is the difference between Sheol, Hades, Hell, the lake of fire, Paradise, and Abraham's bosom? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Abraham in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Abraham's (34 Occurrences)

Luke 16:22
It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

John 8:33
They answered him, "We are Abraham's seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say,'You will be made free?' "
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS NIV)

John 8:37
I know that you are Abraham's seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS NIV)

John 8:39
They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

John 8:58
Jesus said to them, 'Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham's coming -- I am;'
(YLT)

Acts 7:6
And God declared that Abraham's posterity should for four hundred years make their home in a country not their own, and be reduced to slavery and be oppressed.
(WEY)

Acts 13:26
Brethren, sons of Abraham's race, and those who among you fear God, to you has the word of this salvation been sent:
(DBY NAS)

Romans 4:9
This declaration of blessedness, then, does it come simply to the circumcised, or to the uncircumcised as well? For Abraham's faith--so we affirm--was placed to his credit as righteousness.
(WEY NIV)

Romans 4:16
Therefore it is on the principle of faith, that it might be according to grace, in order to the promise being sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of Abraham's faith, who is father of us all,
(DBY NIV)

Romans 4:17
so that the promise should be made sure to all Abraham's true descendants; not merely to those who are righteous through the Law, but to those who are righteous through a faith like that of Abraham. Thus in the sight of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and makes reference to things that do not exist, as though they did, Abraham is the forefather of all of us. As it is written, "I have appointed you to be the forefather of many nations."
(WEY)

Romans 9:7
Neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children. But, "In Isaac will your seed be called."
(WEB WEY ASV NAS NIV)

Romans 9:8
In other words, it is not the children by natural descent who count as God's children, but the children made such by the promise are regarded as Abraham's posterity.
(WEY NIV)

2 Corinthians 11:22
Hebrews are they? I also! Israelites are they? I also! seed of Abraham are they? I also!
(See NIV)

Galatians 3:7
Know then that they that are on the principle of faith, these are Abraham's sons;
(DBY)

Galatians 3:29
If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 2:16
for, doubtless, of messengers it doth not lay hold, but of seed of Abraham it layeth hold,
(See NIV)

Genesis 17:23
Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money; every male among the men of Abraham's house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as God had said to him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 17:27
All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
(See NIV)

Genesis 20:18
For Yahweh had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 21:11
The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Genesis 22:23
Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 24:9
And the servant put his hand under Abraham's leg, and gave him his oath about this thing.
(BBE)

Genesis 24:15
It happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 24:34
He said, "I am Abraham's servant.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 24:52
It happened that when Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 24:59
They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham's servant, and his men.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 25:6
but to the sons of Abraham's concubines, Abraham gave gifts. He sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, to the east country.
(WEB)

Genesis 25:7
These are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived: one hundred seventy-five years.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Genesis 25:12
Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bore to Abraham.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 25:19
This is the history of the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham became the father of Isaac.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 26:1
And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
(See NIV)

Genesis 26:24
Yahweh appeared to him the same night, and said, "I am the God of Abraham your father. Don't be afraid, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your seed for my servant Abraham's sake."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Genesis 28:9
Esau went to Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 1:32
The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bore Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba, and Dedan.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Abraham's

Abraham's Bosom

Related Terms

Bosom (47 Occurrences)

Mamre (10 Occurrences)

Offspring (186 Occurrences)

Rebekah (31 Occurrences)

Keturah (4 Occurrences)

Laban (52 Occurrences)

Ish'mael (40 Occurrences)

Rebecca (28 Occurrences)